Koen Casteels is the new number 1 goalkeeper for the Red Devils. He also recently moved to Saudi Arabia and chose financial security. The questions he was asked about this didn’t really sit well with him.
For Casteels, it is above all a question of respect. He played thirteen years in Germany, but he has never received as much attention as in recent months. Each time now, he is asked questions about Courtois and his transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Koen, a few months ago you said that you would choose a sports project. Choosing Saudi Arabia doesn’t really seem to go in that direction?
“I played 13 years in the Bundesliga and worked hard all my career. I will be 32 this month. I looked at everything there and the owner, Aramco (one of the biggest companies oil companies of the world, nda), has great sporting ambitions.”
“The Saudi Pro League is becoming more and more attractive every year. Many European players have preceded me. And I won’t be the last. Football is well and truly played. It was an ensemble. The visit of all the facilities, the country, the infrastructure… All that convinced me.”
Human rights are not respected there. What do you think ?
“I’m going there to do my job. I’ve been made very welcome. I’ll have to experience all of this for myself. I currently have no opinion on this.”
Was it difficult for you to move there with your wife and children?
“We visited several international schools and I have never seen anything like this. After looking at everything, the decision was made quite quickly.”
Did you want to make a decision before the Euro?
“Yes, all the clubs knew that I was available for discussions from January. I really wanted to have certainty for the tournament. You never know what can happen. There is the risk of suddenly finding yourself with nothing. I wanted to avoid that.”
Anderlecht was also interested. If they had been champions and played in the Champions League, would you have hesitated or made a different decision?
“I don’t know. The discussions obviously couldn’t go any further since they’re not playing in the Champions League. I don’t know what other decision I would have made.”
Did it bother you that before the tournament there were questions about who would be the first goalie, you or Sels?
“Who doubted it? No, it didn’t bother me. I didn’t even read the press, so it couldn’t have bothered me.”
Do you feel like you have something to prove now that you can finally play and Thibaut Courtois isn’t there?
“Not at all. We have a very good group here and we believe in our qualities (slightly irritated). After so many games in Germany, there is not much more to prove.”
Is that a different aspect for you now that you’re number 1?
“As a second goalie, I prepared the same way. I’m not going to suddenly do special things because I’m going to play now. Changing too many things can go wrong.”
In your youth, you were as good, or even better, than Courtois… Does that give you confidence?
(very irritated, and looking at the press manager) “I don’t know what to say to that. I think I have nothing left to prove. Thank you very much.”
We wanted to say that you can evolve at the same level as him. Can you surpass yourself?
“It’s always nice to play. But I also had a good feeling in the previous tournaments. We just have to be proud of the generation of 1992 with also Simon Mignolet. It’s something very special. Rather than seeing ourselves as competitors, we should be proud of each other.”
